Join us for the 58th Heart Congress
February 15-17, 2019

Educational Grants Awarded:
In 2018, five students were each awarded scholarships.

Our Exhibit Hall attracts more than 800
optometrists and 350 paraoptometrics each year.

2019 Exhibit Hall Experience

Camaraderie - Education - Innovation

Optometrists and paraoptometrics are invited to visit with over 100 Exhibitors and to enter to win door prizes valued at over $15,000 in the Heart Exhibit Hall. Join colleagues in the Exhibit Hall and enjoy refreshments, cocktails, the Scavenger Hunt and The Heart Craft Beer Tour. There is always something exciting happening in the Exhibit Hall!

A Special Thanks to Our Corporate Sponsors

Thank you from the Heart!

Message From the President

Wes DeRosier, O.D., F.A.A.O.,
HOAECC President

Thank you for another great year at the 2018 Heart of America Eye Care Congress. Over the past 57 years, the Heart of America Eye Care Congress has been the Midwest's premiere optometric meeting delivering high quality continuing education from nationally renowned speakers. Widely known as the "Heart", the annual meeting continues to evolve in stride with the optometric profession. Continuing education originally concentrated on the development and application of contact lenses. Today, the Heart's scope of optometric continuing education continues to be at the forefront of our profession encompassing all facets of optometry including contact lenses, ocular surface disease, glaucoma, retinal disease, pediatrics, practice management and more.

The 2018 Heart enjoyed a record attendance as over 1,400 optometrists, paraoptometrics, residents, and students from across the United States experienced the Heart's camaraderie, education and innovation. The Heart's Scientific Poster Session highlighted the next generation of eye care professionals with 82 high quality scientific posters presented and discussed with attendees. Paraoptometrics acquired education accredited by the American Optometric Association's Commission on Paraoptometric Certification. As always, the Exhibit Hall was bustling with camaraderie, education and innovation as 100 exhibitors showcased the latest in pharmaceuticals, technology, fashion, practice management software and more. In addition to the Exhibit Hall's professional function of bringing vendors and practices together, the Exhibit Hall remains the place for camaraderie. Enjoy refreshments and a BBQ buffet luncheon with new and old friends between classes and experience the Annual Heart Craft Beer Tour in the Exhibit Hall.

The Heart proudly partners with the America Academy of Optometry. The 2018 Heart was the second Heart in which first authors presenting a scientific poster were awarded 10 points towards earning their American Academy of Optometry fellowship. Also, the Heart proudly presented the Best of the American Academy of Optometry 2017, which presented highlights from 2017 Academy Chicago. You will be able to experience these Academy events again 2019.

You are invited to join the camaraderie, education and innovation at the 58th Annual Heart of America Eye Care CongressFebruary 15-17, 2019 at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center to acquire contemporary optometric education from nationally renowned speakers. The 58th Annual will be a perfect venue for you to reconnect with friends and for you to make business contacts to grow your practice. This is also a great opportunity for paraoptometrics to acquire education accredited by the American Optometric Association's Commission on Paraoptometric Certification.

We look forward to seeing you at the 58th Annual Heart of America Eye Care Congress in Kansas City February 15-17, 2019. Please contact any member of the HOAECC Board of Directors if we can assist you in any way.